Doesn't put me off one bit, and I'd imagine that the number of people who'd (A) actually understand the issues you're complaining about and (B) actually agree with you enough to stop buying from Apple is nowhere near enough to make a dent in any product they release.
(I'll probably still wait for the second-generation version, though, just like I did with the iPhone)
Not all people are equally important in this context. I influence buying decisions of quite a number of people as the go-to computer person and as an entrepreneur. I am a developer making platform decisions for mobile apps.
As a business owner I'm not going to let an all powerful middleman get in between me and my customers. And as a freedom loving person, I'm not going to let anyone censor my dictionary.
I influence buying decisions of quite a number of people as the go-to computer person and as an entrepreneur.
Let's turn your statements on their heads and see what falls out:
So what you're saying is that having a middleman make your technology decisions for you is a bad thing, and that you'll use your position as a middleman who makes technology decisions for others to try to prevent Apple from doing that?
I am not the all powerful middleman for anyone as most people are simply not stupid enough to sign away their rights in that fashion. I just give advice.
But you're right that I'm acting in my own interest. I'm not making a moral case here. Nobody is forced to buy from Apple, so Apple is free to do whatever nonsense they want.
What I'm saying is simply that it is not in my interest to do business with Apple if they take away the most basic freedoms from me. Neither as a user nor as a consumer, and least of all as a hacker who likes to tinker with stuff.
(I'll probably still wait for the second-generation version, though, just like I did with the iPhone)